• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Brandon Shire

Author of Contemporary Gay Romance

  • Author Bio
  • Books
    • The Love of Wicked Men
    • Afflicted – Gay Romance Series
    • Cold – Gay Romance Series
    • Erotic Short Stories
    • Summer Symphony
    • Listening To Dust
    • The Value Of Rain
    • Afflicted – Book 1
    • Afflicted – Book 2
    • Cold – MM Romance
    • Heart of Timber – Gay Romance
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • LGBT Youth Organizations
  • LGBT Authors Giving Back
  • Fundraising for Homeless LGBT
You are here: Home / Blog

Blog

Changing Perceptions with Romance Writing: An Interview with Ranae Rose

August 29, 2012 By Brandon 3 Comments

Ranae Rose, Best Selling Romance AuthorI’m talking with Ranae Rose today, a Bestselling Romance Author with over a dozen books under her belt.  As you could’ve probably guessed we’re talking about how romance changes perceptions, and specifically how it has changed perceptions in regards to LGBTQ people and their relationships.

B: Do you think romance novels enhance the perception of LGBT people? The reason I ask is that I just spoke with someone who was dismayed at the seeming plethora of M/M fiction on major books sites like Amazon and Kobo when they went searching for gay (non-sexual) fiction. It’s my personal opinion that the popularity of M/M fiction among heterosexual women is one of the major reasons we have seen such a shift in the overall public perception of LGBT people. Your thoughts? [Read more…] about Changing Perceptions with Romance Writing: An Interview with Ranae Rose

Filed Under: Author Interviews, Gay Romance Novels Tagged With: free book, gay authors, mm romance

10% of Book Sales to LGBT Youth Charity

August 28, 2012 By Brandon Leave a Comment

As of September 1st, 2012 ten percent (10%) of ALL book sales will go to two LGBT Youth Charities

 

lgbt nonprofitAs most of my regular readers already know, it was previously set up so that 50% of the proceeds from The Value of Rain went to two charities working with LGBTQ youth. Unfortunately, that has turned into an accounting nightmare in which the end loser is the charities themselves.  With two books out, another coming out in September, and several more planned for next year I can see this getting worse.

Changing how I raise funds will allow all my readers to know that their money is going to a solid cause (getting homeless LGBT kids off the street) and broaden the choices for those readers while at the same time giving me/us the ability to send more money to the nonprofits involved. (10% of multiple books is more than 50% of one). [Read more…] about 10% of Book Sales to LGBT Youth Charity

Filed Under: Gay Fiction, Gay Romance Novels, LGBT Youth Organizations Tagged With: gay youth, lgbt fundraising, lgbt homeless, lgbt organizations, mm romance, reader questions

Congratulations to the Blog Hop Winners!

August 27, 2012 By Brandon 1 Comment

The new M/M romance by Brandon ShireI want to thank everyone that left a comment on the Rainbow Book Reviews blog hop. There were so many overwhelmingly positive comments that I decided to give away 5 FREE COPIES of Afflicted instead of just one. Winners were chosen at random utilizing random.org.

The winners are:

Jessica K Lang

Amanda 

Tracey D. 

Penumbra

Lisa H.

Congratulations!!! You’ll be receiving an email from me shortly.

And thanks again to everyone that left a comment.

Filed Under: Gay Romance Novels Tagged With: afflicted, blog hop, free book, gay love story, mm romance

What does writing LGBTQ literature mean to me?

August 23, 2012 By Brandon 53 Comments

Rain Book reviews Blog Hop

Welcome Blog Hoppers

This is actually a tougher question than it seems.  When I first signed on for this blog-hop I said, Oh that’s easy! I know why I do it. But the question wasn’t Why? It was what does writing LGBTQ lit mean to you?  I spent many, many days tossing this around because writing has been such an intricate part of my life for so long that it has never really had a singular meaning. [Read more…] about What does writing LGBTQ literature mean to me?

Filed Under: Brandon's Musings Tagged With: afflicted, blog hop, Homophobia, LGBT, listening to dust, the value of rain, writing

Book Giveaway and Blog Hop

August 20, 2012 By Brandon 1 Comment

Rain Book reviews Blog HopThis Friday and all weekend long, you can join me, other LGBTQ authors and several publishers in a blog hop sponsored by Rainbow Book Reviews.

WHY:  They’re celebrating  their new book review site and have invited all GLBTQ authors to join in their Follow the Rainbow Blog Hop.

WHEN:  The hop will be for three days, Friday, August 24, 2012 from 12:00 am EST– Sunday, August 26, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST. 

GRAND PRIZES:

  • Rainbow Book Reviews will provide 4 Book Gift Vouchers (All Romance or Amazon) of $25.00 each and pick winners at random from comments on the Rainbow Book Reviews blog.
  • Several publishers have already promised prizes in the form of book vouchers and other goodies. They will show up on the Rainbow Book Reviews blog as they receive updates.
  • Authors like myself will also be providing prizes with the winners to be chosen from one of the comments made on authors’ blogs.

I’ll be giving away a FREE copy of my NEW M/M novel Afflicted when it is published in September. 

You’ll be able to see the details of how to win when you see the blog hop post on Friday.

Look for the post:

‘What does writing GLBTQ literature mean to me?’

Filed Under: Gay Romance Novels Tagged With: afflicted, blog hop, free book, mm romance

The Psychopath Test – Do Writers Fail?

August 20, 2012 By Brandon 3 Comments

writingI’m pretty sure most of you are familiar with the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). I actually have a copy on my shelf as a reference book.

The DSM comes in quite handy for writing (as well as for figuring out WTF is really wrong with your relatives.) As a writer, you already know that all your family members characters are listed in there somewhere. It is simply one of those must-have reference books you can’t be without.

But as a writer, the DSM is also a bit of a Pandora’s box. Really, I kid you not. Who else but a writer can get away with telling everyone they hear voices, and then spend months cooped up in a small room piled high with crumpled papers, cigarette smoke curling around your head?

Neatness hinders creativity you tell yourself, and this is a writer’s cave. Anything goes here. There are no rules except the sanctity of solitude, the smell of hot ink, and that goddamned two-foot high DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door, which must be obeyed. [Read more…] about The Psychopath Test – Do Writers Fail?

Filed Under: Brandon's Musings Tagged With: humor, video, writing, writing tips

A Message of Hope from Author Ross McCoubrey

August 15, 2012 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Ross McCoubrey, AuthorToday I want to introduce you to a fellow author after my own heart, Ross McCoubrey. Ross gives part of the proceeds from his debut book One Boy’s Shadow to a nonprofit LGBT Youth organization. Anyone that reads my blog, books, or social feeds knows how important that is to me.

B: One Boy’s Shadow is about coming of age and coming out but only in a small aspect, you told me it’s more of a paranormal ghost story, is that right? [Read more…] about A Message of Hope from Author Ross McCoubrey

Filed Under: Author Interviews, Gay Fiction, Gay Romance Novels, LGBT Youth Organizations Tagged With: coming out, gay authors, gay teens, gay youth, lgbt fundraising

Where Vaginas Collide – Interview with Erica Tremblay

August 13, 2012 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Erica TrembleyToday I’m taking with Erica Tremblay (AKA Go-Go Gidget), filmmaker and Co-captain of the LA based Angel City Derby Girls. Erica is currently creating a documentary called The Vagine Regime (the VR) that focuses on lesbian, bisexual and transgender skaters within the fast growing sport of roller derby. Erica also produced the highly successful fitness series “Roller Derby Workout” and her first short film “Tiny Red Universe” won several festival prizes. Erica recently published her first comic book, “The Mad Maxines,” included in an anthology with Oni Press. [Read more…] about Where Vaginas Collide – Interview with Erica Tremblay

Filed Under: LGBT Equality, Queer Film Tagged With: interviews, LGBT, lgbt films, lgbt fundraising, transgender

As Streetlights Come and Go – Animated Gay Love Story

August 12, 2012 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Every once in a while someone sends me something really cool. I love art of any sort, so when this video popped into my inbox I was instantly enthralled. It’s simple, yet speaks volumes, which all great art does. Thanks to AJ Powers for creating and sending this to me. 

 

Streetlights come and go.
When the snow falls, will you touch my lips?
If cars drive past, do we stand together, motionless?
A fire beneath our feet. I see these mistakes, and a bee has lost its wings.
The mailbox is starting to get mad, the phone doesn’t answer me anymore.
Midnight rush hour, goodbye summer breeze.
The spirits are present. Can you hear them?
They want to know about us.
So will you run with me? The rails are covered in rain.
Can we write our will across the sky?
If this is what it means, can we jump?
Do you know where to land?
In the stars?
Or in the sea?
Why don’t you look at me?
I’ve been looking for you.
This darkness helps me see, and here it is.
Don’t look at yourself that way, I love your wings.
The sound of droplets bouncing from pamphlets, and your eyes just won’t let go.
To the beginning of all this, we stand at the edge of our balcony, red drapes illuminate your skin.
If you can see this far into the sun, grab my hand and nothing will stop us.
I can’t say I understand, but this will never end.

The birds will talk, and the trees will watch.
Do you know what it means to never stop?

Filed Under: Queer Film Tagged With: gay love story, poetry, video

Lessons of Love and Pain – Interview with Author Coffey Brown

August 9, 2012 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Brooklyns Journey by Coffey Brown I’m talking with Coffey Brown today, author of BrookLyn’s Journey, a YA LGBT book dealing with a young lesbian and her escape from an abusive home.

B: First, I love your pen name. It just rolls right off the tongue. How did you come up with it?

CB: I wish I had an extremely creative answer for this but I’d be lying if I gave you one. I’ve liked the name Coffey since seeing the movie Green Mile. I was going to go with Coffey B. but decided on Brown when I was completing the copyright application online. It had a cool vibe to it. Stacey Pierce, not so much. [Read more…] about Lessons of Love and Pain – Interview with Author Coffey Brown

Filed Under: Author Interviews, Lesbian Fiction Tagged With: coming out, lesbian

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 31
  • Page 32
  • Page 33
  • Page 34
  • Page 35
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 39
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Recent Book Reviews

Wicked Men; Summer Symphony; The Value of Rain; Listening To Dust; Afflicted; Afflicted II; Cold; Heart of Timber

Steamy Gay Romance!

Afflicted I
AmazonBNKoboiBooksSmashwords

LGBT Award Winner

Listening to Dust
AmazoniBooksNookKoboSmashwords

Erotic Shorts

Gay for Pay: Football Jock
AmazonNookKoboiBooksSmashwords

Subscribe

Connect with Brandon!

Connect with me on Google+Connect with me on TwitterConnect with me on PinterestConnect with me on YouTubeConnect with me on RedditConnect with me on TumblrConnect with me on RSSConnect with me on GoodreadsConnect with me on StumbleUpon

Get your e-book Signed by Brandon

Get a free Authorgraph from Brandon Shire

Previous Blog Posts

  • Author Interviews (75)
  • Bisexual Fiction (13)
  • Book Excerpts (15)
  • Brandon's Musings (103)
  • From the LGBT Youth Hotline (6)
  • Gay Fiction (137)
  • Gay Nonfiction (6)
  • Gay Romance Novels (140)
  • Horror (3)
  • Lesbian Fiction (11)
  • LGBT Book Gems (22)
  • LGBT Equality (11)
  • LGBT Musicians (28)
  • LGBT Nonfiction (4)
  • LGBT Nonprofit News (29)
  • LGBT Parent (6)
  • LGBT Youth Organizations (33)
  • Literary Fiction (10)
  • Queer Film (25)
  • Science Fiction and Fantasy (17)
  • Short Stories (9)

FTC Disclosure

Assume all links within this website are affiliate links. Part or all of the proceeds from such links are donated to organizations combating LGBT youth homelessness.

We believe in a HEA for all


Blogroll

  • Attention is Arbitrary
  • Band of Thebes
  • Elisa Rolle
  • GLBT Fiction Reviews
  • Joyfully Jay
  • Lambda Literary
  • Love Bytes Reviews
  • Prism Book Alliance
  • Smoocher's Voice
  • The Blogger Girls
  • The Novel Approach
  • The Reading Life
  • TotallyBookedBlog

LGBT Youth Charities

  • GLBT Advocacy & Youth Services
  • Lost and Found Youth

GLBT Bookstore

Recent Posts

  • Where are you, Brandon?
  • Happy Holidays
  • Rainbow Award Winner
  • He tastes like Sin
  • Gay Film – #Credence – A Must See

Purchase Brandon’s Books from

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks

Copyright © 2025 Brandon Shire / All Rights Reserved Powered by StudioPress Themes for WordPress